A 19-year-old LaPlace man and his 16-year-old cousin have been arrested and booked with armed robbery with a firearm (felony) in connection with an incident at a LaPlace park on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 5:15 p.m. call about an aggravated assault that had occurred earlier in the day at Greenwood Park in LaPlace. A father reported that around 3:45 p.m. three unidentified Black males accosted his young children, ages 11 and 7, and stole their bikes. One of the suspects pointed a gun and threatened the children, the father reported.
Around 8:25 p.m.on Saturday, Feb. 15, while responding to an unrelated disturbance in the 400 block of Elm Street in LaPlace, deputies spotted a suspect, later identified as Johnte Tuco, sitting on one of the bikes that had been reported stolen earlier in the day. Tuco fled from deputies and was later arrested after a foot pursuit.
Tuco was booked with illegal possession of a stolen firearm, armed robbery with a firearm (felony) and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. He is being held in the parish jail under a $62,500 bond.
A 16-year-old juvenile also was arrested in connection with the armed robbery at Greenwood Park. He was booked with illegal possession of stolen things (MISD) and armed robbery with a firearm (felony).